The Legislature’s technology chief, who earned more than $1 million from the state in the last three years, is facing allegations that he owes tens of thousands of dollars in federal taxes.
The Internal Revenue Service filed liens last year against Edward S. Bell, the Legislature’s chief information officer and his wife, totaling $145,962 for the 2010 and 2011 tax years, according to filings with the Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds.
It’s not clear whether Bell owes the taxes based on money he earned from the state or from other sources of income.
The state paid Bell, an independent contractor, more than $1.1 million in fees since 2010, state records show, which works out to more than $300,000 a year. But Bell also has his own information technology consulting business, 3S Con Inc., which likely generates additional income.
Bell has served as interim chief information officer for the Massachusetts Senate & House since 2009, overseeing the website and other technology projects for the Legislature, according to his LinkedIn profile. He previously worked for several financial services firms: ING, Commonwealth Financial Network, and Putnam Investments.
In a brief telephone interview Monday, Bell said he has since worked out a payment plan with the IRS to pay his 2010 and 2011 taxes. He has fully paid his 2012 taxes and is current on his 2013 taxes, he said. But Bell added he did not feel comfortable talking about what specifically prompted the federal tax liens. “I can’t go into any personal matters,” he said.
He instead referred questions about his state pay to the offices of Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo.
Murray and DeLeo released a joint statement Monday stressing the importance of legislative technology projects, which they say “enhance the public’s access to the legislative process.” That includes overhauling the web site and redesigning the hearing rooms for live webcasting.
The statement also said that all its technology contracts are awarded through a competitive bidding process. But the statement did not specifically mention Bell, his pay, or his tax issues, and representatives did not immediately respond to questions about the topics.
The first lien for $75,369.05 was filed on March 2012 based on the 2010 tax year. The second lien, for $70,593.75, was filed last August for the 2011 tax year.
The IRS says it normally only files a lien if a taxpayer doesn’t pay the agency or set up a payment plan after receiving at least two bills.
Bell, however, said he never ignored any tax bills from the IRS. “Anytime the IRS reached out to me, I reached back to them,” he said.
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"Legislature’s technology chief to be replaced" by Todd Wallack | Globe Staff July 30, 2013
The Legislature’s technology chief, who came under fire Monday for his large paycheck and failure to pay his federal taxes, will be soon be replaced.
The Legislature does not plan to renew its contract with Edward S. Bell — who earned more than $1.1 million in fees since 2010 — when it expires Aug. 16, according to legislative staff familiar with the situation who were not authorized to speak on the record.
The staff members said a current technology employee, Paul Pak, is slated to replace Bell as interim chief information officer next month. Pak currently earns an annual salary of $125,000, according to state payroll records. It is unclear if he will receive a raise.
By comparison, Bell earned $286,000 last year as an outside contractor, double the pay for the state’s chief information officer, John Letchford. such officials nationwide earn an average of $134,000, according to the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.
Bell, who lives in Beverly, has served as interim chief information officer for the Senate and House since 2009, overseeing projects to revamp the Legislature’s website and other initiatives. He also has his own business, 3S Con Inc.
As the Globe and others reported Monday, the Internal Revenue Service filed liens last year against Bell and his wife, totaling $145,962 for the 2010 and 2011 tax years, according to filings with the Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds.
Bell said Monday he worked out a payment plan with the IRS earlier this year to pay his 2010 and 2011 taxes, has paid his 2012 taxes, and is current on his 2013 taxes. However, the IRS does not typically remove liens until they are fully paid.
Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo declined to answer questions Monday about Bell’s hiring, pay level, or tax problems. But they did issue a joint statement Monday saying the legislative technology projects, including the website redesign, were a top priority.
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Related: Patrick Feeling His Oates
"Legislature’s technology chief to be replaced" by Todd Wallack | Globe Staff July 30, 2013
The Legislature’s technology chief, who came under fire Monday for his large paycheck and failure to pay his federal taxes, will be soon be replaced.
The Legislature does not plan to renew its contract with Edward S. Bell — who earned more than $1.1 million in fees since 2010 — when it expires Aug. 16, according to legislative staff familiar with the situation who were not authorized to speak on the record.
The staff members said a current technology employee, Paul Pak, is slated to replace Bell as interim chief information officer next month. Pak currently earns an annual salary of $125,000, according to state payroll records. It is unclear if he will receive a raise.
By comparison, Bell earned $286,000 last year as an outside contractor, double the pay for the state’s chief information officer, John Letchford. such officials nationwide earn an average of $134,000, according to the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.
Bell, who lives in Beverly, has served as interim chief information officer for the Senate and House since 2009, overseeing projects to revamp the Legislature’s website and other initiatives. He also has his own business, 3S Con Inc.
As the Globe and others reported Monday, the Internal Revenue Service filed liens last year against Bell and his wife, totaling $145,962 for the 2010 and 2011 tax years, according to filings with the Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds.
Bell said Monday he worked out a payment plan with the IRS earlier this year to pay his 2010 and 2011 taxes, has paid his 2012 taxes, and is current on his 2013 taxes. However, the IRS does not typically remove liens until they are fully paid.
Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo declined to answer questions Monday about Bell’s hiring, pay level, or tax problems. But they did issue a joint statement Monday saying the legislative technology projects, including the website redesign, were a top priority.
--more--"
Related: Patrick Feeling His Oates
